Paddock News
EnduroGP Reigns at Hawkstone
Park!
We look back at the FunnelWeb Filter Grand Prix
of the United Kingdom which will go down as a
highlight in the Maxxis FIM EnduroGP World
Championship annals...
Top Job!
In 2016 when Alain BLANCHARD (ABC Communication)
asked British Enduro legend Paul EDMONDSON to
organise a World round in Great Britain, the
quadruple World Champion did not hesitate for a
second! With his "Fast Eddy Racing” team,
they took on this challenge and proposed an
unprecedented format: an Enduro Sprint combined
with a GNCC! EDMONDSON and his team were
determined it could work, and they showed a lot of
sincerity and professionalism from the beginning
to the end... The choice of the circuit of
Hawkstone Park proved a winner with the many
national riders (about 160) and the compact nature
of the venue pleased all the riders and teams, as
well as the promoter and the FIM! Undoubtedly, one
of the great favourites for the "Organisation
of the Year” title!
Special Guest
It was a big surprise for us when we saw our
quadruple World Champion Laïa SANZ (E - KTM) in
the paddock on Friday afternoon. In full
preparation for the Rally of Morocco, the Catalan
decided to take a few days off and come to see
this "atypical" GP: "I have
excellent memories of Hawkstone Park when we had
the World Trial Championship here in 2005. And
then this formula intrigues me a lot so I was
curious, and I must confess that it is very
interesting for the future!"
Pits Stops
In
the Sunday GNCC regulations, each rider was
obliged to make at least two "pit stops”,
where they could top up their fuel and make some
adjustments to the bike. These pit stops played a
key role in the race. After 45 minutes, Steve
HOLCOMBE (GB - Beta), in the lead at the time, was
forced to take his first stop. Reason: a damaged
rear wheel. The British rider lost more than 10
minutes, which took away any hope of a final
victory. These pits stops also played an important
role in the final victory in the EnduroGP
category: Christophe CHARLIER (F - Husqvarna), in
the lead, made the decision to pit again while
Nathan WATSON (GB - KTM) gambled on staying out to
try and win the race. A winning decision by the
factory KTM rider who took the top spot after a
dramatic and intense race!
Good Recovery
Driving in Britain was a daunting prospect for
many people from the paddock, and they had to get
used to driving on the left! Unfortunately, old
habits are hard to break. Indeed, after the race
on Saturday, the friendly Michel ST JEAN (agent
for several French riders) as well as Philippe
LARRIEU (father of Loïc), were victims of a road
traffic accident. The teams and the riders from
EnduroGP join ABC Communication to wish a good
recovery to these two well known and nice members
of the paddock...
Spectators Turn Out
The
Fast Eddy Racing crew had put everything in place
to attract the maximum number of spectators; good
communication and promotion on social media, a
commercial village right next to the pits and the
circuit, and an evening of entertainment organised
on Saturday with a concert... And the crowds
responded throughout the weekend! Several thousand
British fans made the trip to see the stars of
EnduroGP and cheer their idols: Steve HOLCOMBE,
the MCCANNEY brothers, Brad FREEMAN (GB - Beta),
Nathan WATSON and David KNIGHT (GB - KTM). They
also gave a lot of support to EGP World Champion
Matthew PHILLIPS (AUS - Sherco) who treated them
to some spectacular riding on Saturday's Cross
Test!
Warrior
We often say that Enduro is a sport which sees
riders pushed to their limits and testing their
mental strength. For many people, Enduro riders
are like warriors. This weekend, the whole
paddocks were able to show that they are indeed
fighters just like Giacomo REDONDI (I – Honda)
who ended the Cross Country with an injured
shoulder. But if we had to pick one in particular,
it would be Christophe CHARLIER (F - Husqvarna). A
rookie in Enduro this year, the Corsican is
building a strong reputation as a man who is hard
to keep down, and who keeps fighting until the
end. This was proven further on Sunday at
Hawkstone Park. The factory Husqvarna rider got
off to a bad start, but he was quickly up to
second place, before passing WATSON. He was then
leading after the 2 hour mark, before falling
heavily for the first time. But CHARLIER was not
going to let it go, he attacked hard and was once
again on the hunt for the British rider. He clawed
back 25 seconds before falling a second time, very
heavily. At the end, dehydrated and on the edge of
passing out, the Frenchie put everything into one
final push, earning himself an incredible second
place before requiring urgent medical attention.
You said warrior?!
Christophe Charlier
Sponsors Visit
At
this FunnelWeb Filter GP in the UK, some sponsors
were keen to come and see the very first round
mixing Enduro Sprint and Cross Country. Of course,
the title sponsor FWF was present with Niels VAN
KEMPEN and their British importer Clive HUNTLEY.
The air filter manufacturer had an exhibition
stand right in front of the podium. We also saw
Martin WABNEGGER from Motorex and Sjoerd FOKKENS
from Maxxis Europe. All were won over by this new
format, which could allow more countries where it
is difficult to run traditional Enduro to be able
to host a round of the World Championship!
RAUCHI Makes History!
The victory by Austrian Pascal RAUCHENECKER (Husqvarna)
on Sunday afternoon at the GNCC will remain in the
history books of World Enduro for two reasons! In
fact, the factory Husqvarna rider became the first
rider to have won a Cross Country in the history
of the EnduroGP, but in addition he became the
very first Austrian to win a day on the
international stage. Things are looking good for
the future of RAUCHENECKER, who also won the
scratch by pulling out one minute over the stars
of EnduroGP. An incredible performance from the
HVA rider.
And Finally…
It was not until the penultimate round of the
championship that Chilean Ruy BARBOSA (Husqvarna)
finally climbed to the top of the podium in Youth
125cc! Very close during the whole season, but
often making mistakes, the rider supported by
Jolly Zanardo finally managed to tie everything
together to beat his two strong rivals Andrea
VERONA (I - TM) and Léo LE QUERE (F - TM)...
"This GP has been so special for me! I
made too many mistakes during the season and here,
where the competition between us has never been so
close, I managed to stay focused and win the two
days. It is magic!” Confessed BARBOSA who was
able to 'do the double' in front of his father,
the young Chilean was delighted and excited to
share such an excellent victory!
Ruy Barbosa
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